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had already set in prior to the Council. A confirmation card of 1958- instead of educating children to the glories of the Mass, there was a determination to keep them as children. This probably had its origins in the traumas of the Second World War.

Many reckoned and still believe that at the Council the Church came of age- rather the reverse I suspect. Indeed one could see in the desire to return to the early Church a parallel with the desire to stay in one's own infancy.

Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost With the least shade of thought to sin allied; Woman! above all women glorified, Our tainted nature's solitary boast; Purer than foam on central ocean tost; Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon Before her wane begins on heaven's blue coast; Thy Image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween, Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend, As to a visible Power, in which did blend All that was mixed and reconciled in Thee Of mother's love with maiden purity, Of high with low, celestial with terrene!

You are completely pure, Mary,and the stain of original sin is not within you.Your clothing is white like snow, and your face is like the sun.You are completely pure, Mary,and the stain of original sin is not within you.You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you are the honoured of our people.You are completely pure, Mary